Sean Flanagan’s William Hill blog: Stumptown suited by the cross country course

William Hill ambassador Sean Flanagan looks ahead to his rides on the final three days from the Punchestown Festival.

Punchestown, Thursday

With Keith (Donoghue) out, I’ve picked up a few more rides over the next couple of days at Punchestown, kicking off Thursday with Club Manager (3:40pm). It was a bit of a shock I suppose when he won at Bellewstown. It was his first run on a bit nicer ground, and it did take him a while to get the hang of it, but when he did get the hang of it he finished quite well. It was his first run in a handicap over hurdles that day and you would imagine he would improve again for the experience of that race. He is well enough in at the weights, but it’s a competitive race, and the ground could be a bit slower come race time, which could be a bit of a negative, but we will have to see how much rain falls. I don’t think the quick turnaround will be and issue to him.

Stumptown (4:50pm) is a nice ride to have in the cross country. His jumping can be a bit deliberate over the regulation fences in those handicap chases, but he does jump a bank very well. Keith (Donoghue) has done a lot of schooling with him, but unfortunately he is now out injured. I jumped a couple of banks with him at Punchestown the other day and he was very good. He was a little bit careful, but that is fine as we have got four and a bit miles to run which I think will suit him down to the ground. He has the form to run a big race, but at the same time there will be some battle hardened banks horses in the race that will take a bit of pegging back. He seems like he is in a rich vein of form as he was staying on well up the hill at Cheltenham the last day.

Finally on Thursday, Only By Night (7:05pm) is a very classy mare that won a Listed bumper at Navan before winning a maiden hurdle at Naas. If she came back to a glimmer of her bumper, or maiden hurdle form, she would have every chance of running a big race. She travels quite well and I don’t think it is much of a negative that she has come back down in trip to two miles.

Punchestown, Friday

I’m on Joyeux Machin (4:15pm), who you’d have to say has been a little bit frustrating so far. He is a horse that has a massive level of ability, but his jumping has been a bit careful all the way along. He was running in what I thought was a winnable race last week at Limerick, but he has gone down to the first and landed in front of the fence being very brave. He was none the worse for that fall. I schooled him today and he went well. He is the sort of horse that wouldn’t surprise me if he pitched up and ran a massive race, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t jump either. He is ground dependent as he does want nicer ground. The boys, Paul and James Nolan, have said they have never had him in as good form at home. He has got blinkers on for the first time to help him concentrate. I think the blinkers will help him. He is a horse that has needed the bounce of the ball to go in his direction, but it just hasn’t happened yet.

Brides Hill (4:50pm) is in great form at home. We have got the big man (Willie Mullins) to worry about, which is the same as always, as Allegorie De Vassy is superior on ratings by four pounds, but that is not a big amount. We are going there in good form, and we are getting a few pounds off Allegorie De Vassy as well, so I’m looking forward to the ride.

Then Fenway Park (7:05pm) is back after a run on very heavy ground the last day at Navan. It just caught him out a little bit, but I think you can put a line through that. If we get back to the straight and narrow, and to his run at Naas, he will be there with a chance in a race like this which is right up his street. I have ridden him a couple of times at home and he is a bridle type horse so I don’t think coming back in trip will be a negative.

Punchestown, Saturday

Bottler’secret (4:50pm) would be an exciting ride to have, so hopefully that’s the plan. He is two from two over hurdles after winning the Grade Two at Fairyhouse the last day and is a horse that I think has a big future. His first run with me over hurdles in a Grade Three was a good performance, but I was taken by his last run at Fairyhouse. He is one of those ones that races just behind the bridle and the cheekpieces were a big help to him the last day. I do think that he is more than capable of stepping up to Grade One level. Some of the other horses entered in this race have been in several battles already where as this lad has only had two runs so he is still relatively fresh and on the improve. Horses like this lad don’t come around very often, and Grade One races are very hard to win, so it would be great to win a big one on him.